Tag Archives: contemporary erotic romance

Happy Day-After Thanksgiving or as the retailers like to call it – Happy Black Friday! Hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday and if you are one of those Black Friday shoppers, I do hope your long waits in line were worth it!

Welcome to the 7th Annual Black Book Friday Bonanza. I’m thrilled to be a part of this blog hop because it falls perfectly before the new release of my new novel – Let Me Love You.

Twenty-three-year-old Ren Haynes returns home after graduating college with two goals–start his engineering career and claim the heart of his parents’ thirty-one-year-old divorced neighbor, Stacey Williams.

Stacey is nursing her broken heart and shattered ego. Not only did her ex-husband have an affair, he got the woman pregnant. Picking up the pieces of her life isn’t easy, so when Ren taps into her need to feel desired again, she finds herself in a position she never imagined.

Can Ren help to rebuild her confidence and convince her that age is just a number?

This story is near and dear to me and a long time coming. Back in 2015, I started writing the story of Ren and Stacey. At the time, it was called Love Thy Neighbor. I submitted the first 5,000 words of it to the Pages From the Heart writing contest just for the heck of it. And it won! 🙂

But commitments to other projects and life got in the way of me completing it. It sat in my WIP folder begging to be told. I worked on it periodically in the early part of 2017 with a promise that I’d publish it before year-end. After attending the RWA National Conference in Orlando in July, I was revived and inspired by so many aspiring and well-known authors that the rest of the story just starting pouring out of me. And as the story unfolded, I realized so did a new title for the story. If you pre-order it and read it on December 18th, you’ll understand why. Pre-order it on Amazon here.

As part of this blog hop, I’m giving away a $15 Amazon gift card. All you have to do is subscribe to my newsletter. Plus, you can earn extra points in the giveaway by tweeting about my new release or following me on Facebook. Good luck and happy blog hopping.

My Girl Code sister – Lea Bronsen – has book 2 of her Hot Model Mine series out – Mine to Love. I’m very excited to share her new release with you all because she is an exceptionally talented writer. Enjoy!

Book two of the Hot Model Mine trilogy is finally here! Did you wonder what happened to erotic romance author Andrea and her irresistible cover model, Yushka, after the conference in Cannes?

In book one, The Perfect Shoot, things were complicated for the couple. He was much younger than her—practically the same age as her twins—and she’d spent half her life without a man. After much reflection, she ended up giving into her desire and taking Mr. Hot Model for lover. But what then after they traveled back to their separate lives?

Wait no more: They’re here to tell the continuation of their sizzling love story 🙂

BLURB:

The writing conference in sunny Cannes was fantastical, a dream. Back at home, reality catches up with author Andrea Johnson and the sexy cover model of her book, Yushka. With tough working schedules, challenging family relations, and seductive temptation from all sides, the couple’s explosive romance is put to the test.

While Yushka gets his duffel bag in the back seat, I lean against the side of the Corolla and stretch my arms on top of its roof. “You got everything?”

“Yeah.” He lifts the bag over his shoulder and tilts his head in direction of the front door. “We good to go?”

My pulse beats a little faster at the thought of him dropping that bag on my bedroom floor and lifting me in his arms instead. I’m so excited to be with him, I simmer inside, aching to touch and hold him. I want to have all of him at once, right now.

A spark of amusement plays in his gorgeous Asian eyes as he waits for me to make a move. “What’s on your mind, Princess?”

Holding his gaze, I smile, my fingers tapping a beat on the car hood to buy some time because I don’t know what to reply. I have a feeling whatever might come out of my mouth now, like I can’t wait to rip those clothes off you or I’m going to make you scream, will sound too cheesy. Why do we need to put our attraction into words, anyway? Once we’re home, there’ll be no reason to talk that much. We’ll do the talking with our more-than-capable hands and … um … mouths.

“Huh, good question.” I step forward, but when in the doorway, I spin to hold the door open for him. “I have no idea.”

“No?” With a raised brow, he passes me.

Just then, I move toward him, chest-to-chest, blocking him and his thick bag between myself and the doorframe.

“Oh!” He laughs.

As the door pushes into my back, squeezing me tighter against him, I put my hands on his waist. First above his clothes––the thick leather jacket and his shirt––then sneaking underneath both of them, my fingers splaying on his warm skin and stroking him.

Completely stuck, he tilts his head and stares into my eyes, his own sparkling with playfulness. “What are you up to?”

“You have a problem?” I move my hands out from beneath his shirt and go downward to palm his tight ass cheeks, pulling his crotch to me. My lower stomach and increasingly heating inner thighs seek to meet his. I want to be so near him he’ll feel my lust, and I want his lust to grow, too. I need us to join and be a match, a melting pot of desire, irresistible and untamable.

“I have to bribe you?” he asks, voice lower, and leans down to kiss me.

How did he guess? At the warm touch of his parted lips, delight rushes through me as if I’d had a shot of alcohol.

He retreats his face a few inches, enough to have a view of what he just kissed. “This good enough for you?” His voice comes out husky, a bit short of breath. With his free hand, he strokes and kneads my butt.

“One more,” I mouth with the next exhale of air. Though the door bores painfully into my back, I don’t want to move, loving the feel of being so close to Yushka, so intimate. It’s amazing how instantaneous and intense our connection is. Just wait till we get our clothes off.

Again, his warm lips land on mine, and we kiss greedily, nose-to-nose, wet tongues playing with each other. My inner pussy muscles clench, remembering too well what it’s like to have his cock inside. I breathe faster. A growing hardness in his crotch presses against me, provoking more tightening. Oh, God. Hot wetness glides down my pussy, wetting my panties. So ready, so soon… I mew into his mouth, and he rewards me with a guttural response, our mouths practically eating each other.

But this isn’t the right place. We need to move and play this torturous game and its grand finale somewhere else.

Releasing his lips, I gasp from our separation, but still manage to pull away.

Would you like to read the first book, The Perfect Shoot? You can find it here.

AUTHOR BIO:

I like my reads hot, fast, and edgy, and strive to give my own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city crime drama with my debut novel Wild Hearted, I divide my writing time between psychological thriller, suspense romance, and erotic contemporary romance.

Four weeks in a row! 🙂 Yep, I’m back again for another round of Sandra Bunino’s Mid-Week Tease. You know-the feature where us authors get an opportunity to post a snippet of a work-in-progress (aka WIPs), a new release or a back title. It’s an amazing way to get a peek at different authors and see what’s up with some of your favorites!

For the last three weeks, I’ve let you get a sneak peek into three of the four stories in Girl Code by DC Stone, Lea Bronsen and myself. This week I’m letting you have a glimpse into the last story in Girl Code – FAITH by Cait Jarrod. The four of us are very eager to share these stories with you. Hope you enjoy!

Setup: the first time Selena and Cullen talked since the night before she went into the Air Force.

Today, I have the lovely and ever talented Elodie Parkes visiting with her latest Evernight Publishing release – Rescuing Cade. Welcome back, Elodie! Always a pleasure having you here.

Blurb

Cade’s trying to get over a broken heart when his friend Jack takes him off to a nightclub, named only, The Club. Although at first Cade is shocked by the place he meets Marissa. It’s not long before he and Marissa get together, but under the pressure of expectations from, The Club, and Marissa’s fear of commitment, they’re both running in opposite directions.

Gorgeous Cade has touched Marissa’s heart in ways she doesn’t want to admit.

Lovely Marissa has lifted Cade’s sadness and opened his heart to love again.

As many of you know, it’s been a crazy ride for my latest Evernight Publishing release, Board Indiscretion – book 3 of my Taking Advantage series. I struggled with writing this story. In the first two books of the series, Mark Olson was a player. Even his friends, John Dorsey (Board Stiff) and Greg Snow (Board Approved) were leery about Mark being around their women. You see, Mark had been in a loveless and sexless marriage for some time, so when his divorce was finalized, he went a bit off the deep end – bedding anything he could. I guess I worried a bit if I made Mark too much of a “villain” so-to-speak in the first two stories to redeem him. So, this book took me some time to craft.

Once I finally felt confident that I’d created a story for Mark and Suzannah that I could be proud of, I began my revision process. In January 2014, I had fully revised the manuscript and was preparing to send it out to my beta readers before submission. But I did something stupid. I didn’t save the revised version to my cloud right away, only saving it to my thumb drive and the flipping thing crashed. And by crashed, I mean… it was not even accepting any electrical current to it – the drive would not even light up when I plugged it in. I was devastated. It had already taken me so long to draft the story and now the revised version was gone. Ugh!

I sent it away to a company in California with high hopes that the information (as there were other manuscripts on that drive) could be recovered. This first company wanted $800 for the attempt and there was no guarantee. It was at that point that I lost my drive. Quite honestly, my motivation to write wiped out almost as quickly as the thumb drive itself. I’m not sure which was harder to deal with. I found a million other things to do besides write and I began the process of accepting the fact that I’d lost the revised version of Board Indiscretion and would have to start the revision process from scratch.

Then my husband found a local company LC Technology that recovered SanDisk thumb drives specifically. I contacted them, explained my situation and sent them my drive. It took them several weeks, but they did it! And not only did they recover Board Indiscretion, but they recovered everything on the drive and for 1/8 the cost of the California company. I was saved and so was Mark Olson!

I’ve found this journey to be quite ironic for this story. You see, this story is about a second chance at love for Mark Olson and well, it was also sort of second chance for me. I’m pleased to present to you Mark Olson and Suzannah McCormick of Board Indiscretion!

Blurb:

Mark Olson isn’t just known for owning his three large care dealerships. He’s also known as a player, at least since his divorce. For a while, he believes he is satisfied as a member of Advantage Insurance Company’s board of directors and bedding a different woman every weekend. That is until someone decides to call his bluff.

Suzannah McCormick is the sweet girl working hard as the executive assistant to Advantage’s CEO. But underneath her saccharine southern charm is a vixen-in-waiting. She’s never been with a man that tapped into that side of her, but she set her sights on Mark Olson with high hopes.

Excerpt:

Since his divorce, he’d convinced himself that remaining single was what he wanted. It made things less complicated for his two pre-teen daughters. Shit! It made things less complicated for himself. But that lifestyle could also be quite lonely.

That’s where Suzie came in and complicated the hell out of his life. She was the executive assistant to the CEO of Advantage Insurance Company, Michael Herron, and well… Mark was a member of Advantage’s board of directors, had been for several years. He loved his position on the board. Aside from the small amount of prestige it carried, he’d made great friends with the other members, particularly the two younger board members—John Dorsey and Greg Snow. A relationship with Suzie could compromise his position on the board and with the members, but truth be told, he also loved his most recent position between her legs.

If only the situation was different.

A familiar giggle wafted in from the direction of the dance floor. The delicate sound stirred his cock to life. It stiffened against his black trousers instantly. After several weeks of clandestine meetings involving dirty talk and hard fucks, he’d know that giggle anywhere. He’d heard it many times afterwards when they lay tangled in each other’s limbs. Turning his head in the direction of the dance floor, anger heated his face and his hands clenched into fists on the bar top at the sight he witnessed.

Sandwiched between two guys that he’d now refer to as dickheads, danced the woman that wreaked havoc on his single life status. Her little black dress clung to her trim frame, emphasizing her small, but very perky breasts and showing off her figure that could easily grace the cover of any fashion magazine. Her legs stretched for miles and her creamy white skin contrasted nicely against the jet black of her dress. Flinging her silky blonde hair over her shoulder and down her back, her pink Pursecase carrying her iPhone dangled from her wrist as her hips gyrated against her two dance partners. The taller man dancing behind her slipped his hand over her hip and rested it over her low belly as he rubbed what Mark was sure to be a rock hard erection against Suzie’s ass.

What the fuck is she doing?

First, she never came to the Beach Club. Never. In all his regular visits to this club over the last couple of years, he had yet to see her in here once. Not once! Second, she was practically dry-humping two guys in the middle of the dance floor. That wasn’t her typical style.

Suzie was one of those beautiful women that appeared to have the girl-next-door innocence. She didn’t dress too provocatively. She was sexy, but in that way that was just natural. Her bubbly Southern charm won over all the men on the board of directors and Mark speculated it would win over anyone. He flirted with her, teasing her on board days to get a rise out of her. There’d always been a twinkle of mischief in her eyes when he flirted with her that would leave him questioning whether he knew her at all.

At last quarter’s board meeting, she left him dumbfounded when she responded to his flirtation with a proposition. After mulling it over for a bit, which actually had turned out to be a couple weeks, he called her bluff. He asked her over to his place for cocktails and she showed up. What he learned was that there was a lot more to Suzannah McCormick than met the eye. The rest was history.

Throwing back the last remnants of his whiskey, he stood from his stool, tossed some cash on the bar, and turned toward the dance floor. He wrestled with what his next move should be.

Be sure to visit every stop on the tour where you can enter for a chance to win great prizes, including a new eReader, gift certificates, swag, books and much more!

Now I turn the spotlight on my smart and sexy book…

Last year, I had this idea to do a series based on three men, who all sit as members on the board of directors of Advantage Insurance Company. All three guys are extremely good-looking (of course – these are romance stories :)), at the top of their game in their careers and single – for their own reasons. Each man has his own book and love interest, but you will see John Dorsey, Greg Snow and Mark Olson in all three books… in some respect. After many mishaps on my way to completing the third book in the series, I finally submitted and went under contract with Evernight Publishing for the third and final book in this Taking Advantage series. Since the third book, Board Indiscretion, will be out in November, I thought I’d highlight the first two books in the series for those of you that are unfamiliar with the members of Advantage Insurance Company’s hot and sexy board of directors.

First up is Board Stiff – Book 1, which was an Evernight Publishing Editor’s Pick, as well as a Top Pick at Night Owl Reviews. (You can click on the covers to find the link to purchase.)

John Dorsey’s life is good. He is the owner of Dorsey Construction. He’s the youngest person on the board of directors for Advantage Insurance Company. He lives on the beach. And he knows he can have any woman he wants. John’s got the world at his fingertips… except he’s yet to find a woman that stimulates both his body and mind.

Elizabeth Wright worked hard in a large Tampa law firm making a name for herself, but it came at the expense of her personal life. When Advantage Insurance Company offers her a job as corporate counsel, Elizabeth cannot turn it down. The thought that she can have a successful legal career and a life excites and intimidates her.

But when their worlds collide one day in the Advantage board room, neither Elizabeth nor John knows what’s hit them. All they know is they can’t stay away from each other.

Here’s what Chris from Night Owl Reviews had to say about John Dorsey and Elizabeth Wright:

John Dorsey is a dream come true. Aggressive and not afraid to ask for he wants, he enters the picture like a tornado and sweeps Elizabeth right off her feet. Their first meeting gave me the tingles and it just gets better from there. Both are at the top of their game in their respective fields and both can have their pick of partners. Elizabeth is initially put off at John’s coarse handling but her inner secret submissive self finds it intriguing. Sure she’s in control at work, but why not cut loose with John? How hot is it that they want each other and don’t let conventional relationship rules get in the way?

This is a quick read and doesn’t try to be more than that. The author starts off fast and it just goes faster. I was totally into the chemistry and sex that John and Elizabeth generate together and happy with the optimistic ending as well as the clues that Elizabeth was different for John right from the start. I really look forward to the next story in this series. – 4 1/2 stars

Next up is Board Approved – Book 2, which was my first tackle of the May-December romance between a hard-working lawyer and a young yoga instructor.

After his divorce, Greg Snow dedicated his life to his work as a corporate attorney in a large law firm and as a member of the board of directors of Advantage Insurance Company. He liked it that way… at least that’s what he thought until Tessa Mills entered his life.

Growing up with an alcoholic mother and never knowing her father, Tessa Mills has not had an easy life. And her relationship decisions have been less than stellar. But she’s finally making a life for herself and running her own business – a yoga studio. It’s her saving grace and that’s all she needs… until Greg Snow turns her world upside down.

Tessa and Greg have a strong attraction, but is it enough to overcome all their differences?

Here’s what Melissa from Romancing the Book had to say about Greg Snow and Tessa Mills:

Board Approved is the second book in the Taking Advantage series by Jessica Jayne. While this book is part of a series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel. I chose this book because after reading the summary I just had to know how it turned out.

Greg Snow is corporate attorney in a large law firm and a member of the board of directors at Advantage Insurance Company. He is happy with is life as it was until he stumbles across Tessa Mills. She manages to turn his life upside down for the best. Tessa owns her own yoga studio and works at different business giving yoga lessons.

When Tessa and Greg meet, you could practically see the sparks fly. I loved that Greg made a spilt second decision and it changed his life for the better. It does make you think of all the decisions that we make in our lives, and how life can change in a second.

This book was well written with fascinating and lifelike characters. Two characters from the first book make an appearance. At 49 pages, this is one hot and sexy quick story. Overall, this was a great story. – 4 stars – Lovely Rose – An enjoyable read. I would recommend.

And last but not least will be Board Indiscretion – book 3, which will tell the story of Mark Olson and Suzannah McCormick and will be coming out this November! Here’s my inspiration for Mark and Suzannah:

And here’s a short excerpt from BoardIndiscretion. Mark is sitting at his favorite bar sipping on some whiskey to help wash away a long day at work and his struggle over what to do with his desire for Suzannah:

A familiar giggle wafted in from the direction of the dance floor. The delicate sound stirred his cock to life. It stiffened against his black trousers instantly. After several weeks of clandestine meetings involving dirty talk and hard fucks, he’d know that giggle anywhere. He’d heard it many times afterwards when they lay tangled in each other’s limbs. Turning his head in the direction of the dance floor, anger heated his face and his hands clenched into fists on the bar top at the sight he witnessed.

Sandwiched between two guys that he’d now refer to as dickheads, danced the woman that wreaked havoc on his single life status. Her little black dress clung to her trim frame, emphasizing her small, but very perky breasts and showing off her figure that could easily grace the cover of any fashion magazine. Her legs stretched for miles and her creamy white skin contrasted nicely against the jet black of her dress. Flinging her silky blonde hair over her shoulder and down her back, her pink Pursecase carrying her iPhone dangled from her wrist as her hips gyrated against her two dance partners. The taller man dancing behind her slipped his hand over her hip and rested it over her low belly as he rubbed what Mark was sure to be a rock hard erection against Suzie’s ass.

What the fuck was she doing?

First, she never came to the Beach Club. Never. In all his regular visits to this club over the last couple of years, he had yet to see her in here once. Not once! Second, she was practically dry-humping two guys in the middle of the dance floor. That wasn’t her typical style.

Answer my question in the comment section for a chance to win (be sure to include your email address):

Today I have the lovely and talented Melissa Hosack visiting us today. She is showing off Book 2 in her Evernight Publishing Lucky Bet series, Teacher’s Pet. Welcome, Melissa!

Blurb:

While celebrating his parents’ anniversary at a local casino, Dex Hawthorn is approached and seduced by friends, Arabella and Parker. He takes both women to bed, all of them under the assumption the evening is to be a one-night stand.

Only Dex can’t stop thinking about Parker, and when his duties as a police officer surprisingly force their paths to cross, he takes it as a sign that the two of them are meant to have something beyond a single night of passion. Can he convince Parker he can be a one woman man, and can he get this sexy yet strict school teacher to open up her heart to him?

Excerpt:

Seduced by the School Teacher

Dex was caught by surprise when Parker passed by the elevators and shoved open the door to the stairwell. “The stairs?” he asked as she started upward, still pulling him behind her.

“I’ve got to get your blood pumping somehow,” Parker said over her shoulder with a teasing grin. “This seemed like a nice start.”

Up and up they went. One floor. Two floors. Three. On the landing of the fourth floor, Parker suddenly stopped. With a giggle, she turned and shoved Dex back against the wall. “Finally, we’ve got you alone.”

Before he could respond, her lips were grazing his. Her fingers smoothed up his chest until she was able to grasp his collar. That’s when her kisses became more demanding. She claimed him with lips, teeth, and tongue.

A groan escaped against his will at the domineering way she kissed him. He’d never had a woman be so forceful in taking what she wanted, and it was a complete turn-on. His arms curved around her waist, and he yanked her forward until her body pressed firmly against his own. While he returned her kisses, he rocked his hips forward into hers, letting her feel his growing erection.

He was so distracted by Parker and her demanding lips, he’d nearly forgotten about Arabella until she suddenly dropped to her knees at his side. While Parker continued to kiss him, her friend stroked Dex’s leg through his jeans. She took her time, smoothing along the coarse fabric. In slow, circular motions, her hand moved closer and closer to his groin.

Finally, she nudged Parker to the side so she could press her palm flat against his dick. “Mmm, Parker, you picked us a big one. Impressive.” Leaning forward, she nuzzled her cheek against the crotch of his pants, emitting a soft purr.

Dex’s head fell back against the wall as Arabella returned to her stroking. His hips arched in time with her movements, thrusting his cock against her caressing palm.

“Hey now,” Parker chastised. “Don’t forget about me.” She was now to the side of him, leaning against the wall. Gripping his chin, she roughly turned his head in her direction, then she was kissing him again.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been kissed this good. Parker was so unbearably sexy. He couldn’t get enough of her, and the feel of her nails grazing his neck sent chills through him. Her body tucked perfectly against his side, as if the two of them fit together like puzzle pieces. Her mouth seemed made for kissing. It was soft and tasted like strawberries. He couldn’t get enough of it either.

Knowing exactly what was expected of him this night, Dex didn’t hesitate in slipping his hand up Parker’s blouse. As their mouths battled for control, he inched his fingers upward until he reached her breasts. He stroked them through her bra. Her nipples pebbled under his touch, drawing a groan of arousal from his throat.

At his feet, Arabella used delicate fingers to undo his belt. With quick movements, she had his belt undone, the button of his jeans loose, and the zipper down.

When Arabella began tugging his jeans and boxers over his hips, he regretfully broke the kiss with Parker and pulled his hips back slightly. “Hold on. Hold on! We’re in a public stairwell. I’m not sure—”

“Relax,” Parker said with a little giggle. “No one ever uses these stairs.”

You know how sometimes you get giddy over the arrival of something or someone exciting! Well, that is me right now. I have the lovely and ever-so-talented Carlene Love Flores here today with her fifth book, Wicked Flower, in her Sin Pointe series and this one’s a scorcher! I’ve loved this series because who hasn’t fantasized about a romance with a rock star. I know I have. And Carlene is one of those writers that breathes life into her characters that you feel like you’ve known them forever. I heart her! Welcome, Carlene! ❤

Hello Jessica and all your Spicy Butterfly friends. So good to be back. My love and gratitude is flittering to you as we speak. I’m here today with a man whose name is Stefan Calderon. He’s the bass playing lead singer of Sin Pointe. He’s been very patient while his band-family got their books. Now, his story, Wicked Flower, is finally here! It is the fifth book of the series and the first to be rated erotic rather than just romance so thank you, Stefan, for that hotness. To celebrate its release, I thought it would be fun to share some favorite “Stefan Moments” at each blog tour stop. Stefan thought it would be more fun to charm sweet Jessica into dedicating her next Totally Tantalizing Tuesday to him.

Carlene, We can definitely book Stefan for Totally Tantalizing Tuesday if you want! He’s yummy!

But no, I’m the writer so I win. We’re going with a Stefan moment. This is the first time Stefan and the heroine, Dani, see each other. Notice how different their reactions are. I’m especially fond of Stefan’s two words at the end. (PS-Stefan is the “bearded Superman” she sees and the other cutie is his drummer, Will.) Please enjoy, from Wicked Flower…

Dani rolled her window down to let the air blow through while she waited her turn in line. The car idling one pump over practically blinded her. Sitting inside the brilliant white convertible were two men. One wearing glasses, a tank top and tattoos thumped the dashboard madly with his fingers and the other, she couldn’t see as well, but he could pass for a bearded Superman with the dark wavy hair and the strong arm draped over the steering wheel.

Talk about different and distracting.

She couldn’t help but stare while she waited. Yep, she got a view of the hood emblem and it was a Mercedes. Must be nice. When they pulled forward in their pump’s line, she saw the plates. Tennessee. Definitely not from around here. Probably just passing through. Dani had always wondered what that would feel like, but she’d never left the western half of Pennsylvania and in her current state, knew it wasn’t an option. Besides, her Buick would never make it and men were just men, not super heroes.

****

“Holy shit.”

And here is the Wicked Flower blurb:

Sin Pointe front man Stefan Calderon is playing a very dangerous game and his mom’s live-in caretaker, Dani Foster, just landed right smack in the middle of it.

Practically strangers when Stefan rolls into his small hometown looking to patch things up with Mom, his and Dani’s worlds collide with a hot and intense hook up. He knows right away this woman will make the perfect partner for his two weeks in town. But when she realizes whose son he is, and what he’s there to do, sexy times come to an abrupt halt.

That is until they come up with a solution. Rules. Every game needs them. The question isn’t if they’ll break them, but when and how hard.

It’s a wickedly delicious game, one neither of them intends to lose.

Thanks for letting me share with you today. If you’d like to spend more time with Stefan in his own book, you can find Wicked Flower at these lovely places:

Carlene Love Flores is a big fan of the stars (especially Orion), honest music (especially Depeche Mode), and her traveling family (no favorites there-she loves them all). These things inspire her intimate style of romance writing. She feels honored to be a member of Washington DC Romance Writers (WRWDC), Romance Writers of America and the Waterworld Mermaids. Carlene currently lives in the San Diego area where she can often be found listening to live music and looking up at the sky on clear nights. If she could touch someone’s heart with her writing the way others have done for her, she’d say truly there never lived a luckier girl.

I have Bethany-Kris here today introducing us to her latest Evernight Publishing release, Spray Paint Kisses, and let me tell, just the blurb and excerpt have captivated me. Please join me in welcoming, Bethany-Kris.

Blurb:

He’s left his mark everywhere. She’s still trying to find a place to leave hers. Gage Masselin is a graffiti artist whose life has revolved around his art, and focused entirely on his career. He’s never needed a muse to get his inspiration flowing, so when an unexpected blonde-haired beauty knocks him out of his zone, he knows he’s in trouble. Summer Davey is just a traveling girl with a gypsy’s soul. The one constant she has is her need to keep moving on. She’s never stayed in one place long enough to plant roots, never mind finding a man with spray paint kissing the tips of his fingers to make her heart beat faster. She inspires him. He’s the first thing to ever feel like home. Sometimes the hardest things to find in love and life are the easiest to lose.

Excerpt:

“Isn’t that illegal?”

Gage Masselin nearly dropped the aerosol paint can when he heard the feminine voice. Whenever he was in the middle of creating a tag, he was in the zone. There were no sounds but the constant whoosh of the spray paint can’s nozzle and his rhythmic breathing. No distractions took him away from his art.

Well, usually.

Turning on his heel, Gage forgot about the black and white bandana he still wore around his lower face as a shield from the paint fumes. The material muffled his surprise as he came face to face with the prettiest damned thing he’d ever seen in his twenty-two years of life.

Long waves of golden hair were tied off to the side in a messy braid, falling over her front. There wasn’t a lick of makeup on her clear peaches and cream complexion. Standing in gladiator style sandals, ripped up jean shorts, and a faded band T-shirt, the girl could have been just about anyone.

Except she couldn’t. Gage’s tiny New Brunswick hometown was a blink and you’d miss it kind of place. Growing up in Plaster Rock gave him the ability to know everyone, even if he didn’t officially live there fulltime anymore. Thing was, people moved away, new people didn’t move there.

Instantly, Gage realized what the girl meant. The bandana still covered the lower part of his face, including his mouth. He probably looked like some little hoodrat hiding in the alley, tagging the shit out of the high school library’s wall.

No wonder she thought he was doing something illegal.

Tugging down the bandana so it rested around his throat, Gage offered the girl a shrug in explanation. “Sorry, habit to wear it. I usually don’t have company when I’m painting, so no reason to have my mouth free to chat.”

“You mean an accomplice, right?”

“No, I mean company,” Gage replied with a smile.

“I didn’t realize graffiti had become legal.”

Oh, this girl had balls, or she just liked breaking them. Either way, Gage liked that.

“It’s not. That’s probably why I spent two years in juvenile hall.”

“Wouldn’t be juvie now, though.”

“No,” Gage said. “It’d be the pen. Good thing it’s legal. I’m not looking to spend any more time in a lockup.”

The girl still didn’t look convinced.

“Honest, sweetheart. See …” Gage pointed at the piece of official paper taped to the brick wall. If a cop happened to stop by, all he had to do was refer to that permit. “Gives me the right to be here slumming up this wall with my work. The school commissioned me to do the piece. It’s all on the legal side of things, promise.”

A small hand rested on her jutted out hip. The action caused Gage to let his eyes wander down the expanse of her creamy thighs and wonder if they felt as smooth and silky as they looked. They probably did. He bet she’d taste like salt, skin, and sin.

Shit, how short were those jean shorts of hers, anyway?

Short enough that they made Gage’s mouth a little dry just from staring.

Fucked, that’s what he was, and he didn’t even know her name.

“If you say so,” the girl mused.

Gage couldn’t help but tease. “What would you have done if I said it was illegal? Call the cops?”

“Nope.”

“That’s it?”

She smiled a blinding sight. “That’s it. It is pretty.”

“Uh, thanks?”

“You’re welcome.”

With one more glance at the bare bones of the mural just beginning to take form, the girl turned to leave. Gage was positive his heart leaped into his throat, creating a lump his words couldn’t make their way by.

“Wait!”

The darkened blue of her eyes glittered as she stared back. “Yeah?”

Gage forced himself to swallow the nerves beginning to form in his throat. Nervousness wasn’t like him at all. “You didn’t tell me your name.”

About Bethany-Kris:

Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother of two young sons, two cats, and two dogs. Between barking dogs, snuggling cats, playing children, and a spouse calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.

On this hump day, I have the distinct pleasure of having Elodie Parkes visiting with her latest Hot Ink Press release, Love at First Sigh. Elodie’s no stranger to the Spicy Butterfly Garden and I always love having her. She brings excitedly sexy stories with her every time she comes! 🙂 Welcome back, Elodie!

*****

The first thing people ask me concerning this release is about the title. They say ‘is that a typo, shouldn’t it be Love at First Sight?’ No, it’s not a typo (smiles). This book is a duo of red-hot contemporary romance stories, Pina Colada and Handy Hubby Hire. The stories feature a love at first sight thread, but initially it’s huge physical attraction to each other when the couples meet. They sigh with lust and then the romance develops.

Here’s the blurb for Handy Hubby Hire

Tired of the maintenance jobs mounting up in her house, Sara hires a handyman. She never dreams someone like Griffen Fox will show up to fix the faucets and back yard gate. Sparks fly, but will they lose their heart to each other?

And for Pina Colada

When Emma takes a long weekend vacation in a warm beach resort, she meets the very handsome Matt Tyler. They spend an idyllic few days together. Will this only be a holiday romance?

I wanted my male characters in the two stories to be very different personalities and yet still similarly alpha enough to go for the girl they wanted sexually right away.

Matt Tyler in Pina Colada is fun and almost dares the heroine, Emma, to engage in lust driven sex. He also gives her romantically exactly what she needs on her holiday break in the sun. Picture the white sandy beaches, the pale green almost transparent ocean, frangipani perfumed, warm night air and a drop-dead gorgeous man, who wants you…bad.

Griffen Fox in Handy Hubby Hire is visually a bad boy, muscled with a swirling black tattoo and an old truck. He’s capable and calm, but underneath the professional exterior simmers…sex…lust…red-hot desire for the heroine, Sara, as soon as he sees her.

He tells her what he’s going to do. He gives her what she’s longing for and then…something happens to him…something unexpected.

As the writer I like Matt very much, but Griffen, well, he’s an absolute darling.

I designed and produced the book cover using Handy Hubby Hire as the inspiration. It took some time tracing the stock photography of the truck and had other people in it, which I edited out and then I found my couple. I love this premise, with the sexy guy holding his lover up against him and nuzzling her neck. I hope it gives a feel for the originality of the stories, their heroes and heroines that could be you and the sexually charged atmosphere of hot summer encounters.

Read an excerpt of each story

Pina Colada: General rating

Her third floor room provided a balcony that overlooked the glittering pool below, and the warm, azure ocean beyond. Emma opened the sliding glass door, and walked onto the balcony. It contained a tiny white metal table, two folding chairs, placed close to the rail, and a lush, broad-leaved plant growing in a massive terracotta pot next to the door.

She hung over the rail and took in the scene below. Bronzed people lay stretched out on the gaudy loungers that the hotel arranged around the pool. A few striped sun umbrellas flapped in the soft breeze. Even from her vantage point on the third floor, the distinctive smell of coconut oil, and other exotic suntan lotions wafted by. The atmosphere was sun-drenched, exciting, and pungent with promise.

Emma turned to go back into her room and saw him. About a meter away on the balcony of the adjacent room, a man stood silently staring down at the pool. Emma took in his gorgeous profile, his dark hair falling attractively over his forehead, his perfect nose, and his jaw with just the right amount of stubble. She sighed over his muscular body shown off perfectly in his low riding shorts. A Celtic design tattoo snaked on the top of his arm. It looked incredibly sexy, a short sleeve of swirling ink on his muscle. She paused to stare at him.

He looked her way. His dark blue eyes met hers. He held her gaze and something passed between them, a silent appraisal of each other. They both liked what they saw.

She knew she’d sparked his interest from the expression on his face, but Emma, suddenly shy around such a sexy man, stepped into her room.

Copyright Elodie Parkes 2014 Hot Ink Press All rights Reserved

Handy Hubby Hire 18+

Griffen Fox drew a deep breath as he watched Sara walk down the hall to her office. He grinned as he took in the sight of her soft ass in her cutoff jeans. Made for grabbing…she’s made for fucking. Pretty, beautiful eyes, lips that make you want to bite them hard as you ram her onto your cock. Damn, Griff, that’s a little over the top, get a grip, and start work. He opened the front door, clicked up the catch so that it wouldn’t lock him out, and went to his truck. An old F500, he’d covered the tray top and made space there for tools and supplies. It proved a good workhorse. Griffen calculated the time it would take to do the jobs in the house — not long really, pesky jobs, but not hard or time consuming, as in a week, unless he strung them out. He’d be there most of the day and one more morning. He looked back at the house from his vantage point on the gravel drive. It’s a nice place. She seems to live there alone. What’s a lovely woman like that doing with no man in her life? Maybe there is one. Maybe I’ll ask her.

Griffen took his tools and supplies in the house and started work. He hummed as he worked. He thought about Sara too, as he rehung the backyard gate. He liked the way her nipples peaked in that tight, white T-shirt, before she covered them up. She’d gazed hungrily at him too. There was something needy about her that made him want to pick her up, crush her to his body, kiss her tenderly and then fuck her hard. Fuck away that fleeting sadness in her eyes. Fuck a smile onto that pretty face. Have those fingers of hers curl around my cock… have those full lips suck it. Hell, I’m getting an erection. I’d like to kiss her. I like her. I do. I bet she tastes sweet.

He jumped when her voice interrupted his thoughts.

“I’m making coffee. Would you like a cup?”

She stood behind him and he turned. The sunlight caught her hair and lit it up with golden streaks. Her T-shirt skimmed the top of her low riding, cutoff jeans. Griffen stared at the flat expanse of stomach on display as she reached up and plucked a few dead twigs off the young tree nearby. He ran his tongue along his top lip as he saw the muscles in her thighs tighten when she stood on tiptoe. She’s lovely… Her nearness made him shake a little.

“I’d love a cup of coffee, thank you.” He steadied his voice, and followed her to the kitchen.

Copyright Elodie Parkes 2014 Hot Ink Press, All right Reserved

About Elodie:

Elodie Parkes is a British author writing romance, erotic, contemporary, and often with a twist of mystery, paranormal or suspense. Her books are always steamy — cool stories and hot love scenes.

Elodie lives in Canterbury with her two dogs. She works in an antique emporium by day and writes at night, loving the cloak of silent darkness that descends on the rural countryside around her home.